On Thursday, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office announced the further loosening – with respect to the counties – of the restrictive measures implemented due to the coronavirus epidemic. At an online press conference, Gergely Gulyás said the Pest County coronavirus infection data is closer to that of the countryside, and from now on the government will regard Pest County as a territory coming under the same consideration as the rest of the counties.

Mr Gulyás stressed that the rules relating to keeping a safe distance of 1.5 metres and the covering of faces would be upheld in the entire country.

As part of the loosening of restrictive measures in the provinces, he mentioned that in the counties catering establishments would be allowed to reopen their interior spaces to customers (in particular, restaurants, cafes, cake shops, snack bars and pubs). However, restaurant workers will be required to wear face masks, and they are asking customers to follow suit as far as possible and to keep a safe distance.

He said from Monday playgrounds in open spaces and parks will reopen. Hotels and guest houses in the countryside will be allowed to receive guests, he said. He indicated that a decree which is expected to be released during the day will provide for the maintenance of a safe distance.

Mr Gulyás said the government also sees scope for the loosening of the restrictions imposed in Budapest due to the coronavirus epidemic.

He said the government asked the Mayor of Budapest and district mayors in the capital to state their opinions regarding the decision the government should adopt on this matter by 3.00 p.m. on Thursday. Following this, the government will consult with virology experts, and the Operational Group will decide about the new rules to be introduced in the capital, he said.

He added that several metropolitan mayors had stated a clear opinion. They have also received Mayor of Budapest Gergely Karácsony’s reply and “beyond the peculiar style he chose to adopt,” as far as they can see the Mayor of Budapest does not have a firm position on the matter. The government will assume the ultimate responsibility for the decision, he laid down.

He observed that in former Mayor of Budapest István Tarlós’s case it would have been inconceivable that the government should not receive a clear answer to a yes-no question.

He recalled that the restrictive regulations currently in force would remain in effect until Sunday midnight. He observed that the new rules would be announced to the public on Friday or Saturday, at the latest.

The government has concluded that in the past few days the numbers of fatalities, incidences and active cases have decreased. This is owing to the fact that Hungary’s citizens have observed the protective measures and restrictions, he said, thanking especially the residents of Budapest and Pest County.

In  his view, life has confirmed the validity of the introduction of different rules in relation to rural counties 11 days ago. The relaxing of measures has not led to mass infections in the countryside, while Budapest continues to account for the majority of infections, he said.

Mr Gulyás stressed that there was a witch-hunt, a show trial under way against Hungary in the European Parliament.

The verdict was written already before the trial, and to make matters worse the Justice Minister was not allowed to address the EP.

It is unprecedented that while the EU’s rotating presidency is represented by a state secretary, a member of the Hungarian government is not given the opportunity to speak, he said. He added that “this brings to mind the worst times in history”; however, even in communist show trials the accused was allowed to make their defence speech.

He took the view that these procedures do nothing but undermine people’s perception of the EU and compromise citizens’ faith in the common institutions. “This procedure is intolerable and unacceptable” and has nothing to do either with the rule of law, or with the EU’s fundamental values, Mr Gulyás stated.

Regarding the German constitutional court’s decision in connection with the European Central Bank’s bond-buying programme, the Minister said they have laid down extremely important fundamental principles, the importance of which Hungary had already stressed earlier. The decision is not a victory of Central European countries over Western Europe; all countries can see themselves as victors collectively, he said stating his view, adding that also according to the Hungarian Constitution, EU law takes priority in a fixed range of issues, but only in the case of powers exercised jointly.

Concerning the judgement of the Court of Justice of the European Union released on Thursday morning, he said the decision adopted in the cases of two Iranian and two Afghan asylum-seekers is disheartening because the judgement seeks to force Hungary to not defend the Hungarian border with a fence and to take in immigrants. At a time when, due to the threat of infection, even the internal European borders are being kept closed, it is “especially frightening” that the European Court believes that the effective protection of the external borders and the assessment of asylum applications outside the borders are not compatible with EU law, he said. He added that if this is indeed the case, then this should induce Europe either to transfer the rules of the protection of the external borders to Member State competence or to determine more stringent EU norms.

In answer to a question, he observed that there is no point in taking the Bertelsmann Foundation’s study seriously.

He said the government has already decided on banning the sale of single-use plastics; in this regard, there is an expectation on the part of the EU, but there are also appreciable environmental criteria behind the decision.

Mr Gulyás also highlighted that the government had adopted a clear decision on the automobile tax at the rate of HUF 34 billion which was a justified and fair contribution on the part of local governments to the containment effort. Therefore, any such attacks are more likely to be politically motivated.

He said the Balaton boating company Bahart has invited a public call for proposals for the operation of ports for sailing boats from 2021 onwards; the ports will not be transferred to the ownership of operators. Four ports have been closed down because they are in a poor state of repair or out of use; these will be sold at public auction, he said.

From 1 June, the organisation of weddings with a maximum attendance of two hundred will be allowed in the countryside and in Pest County, Government Spokesperson Alexandra Szentkirályi announced.

She said at weddings organisers will be required to ensure that a safe distance is maintained between tables.

In answer to a question, Mr Gulyás said the government has also decided that summer camps for children without overnight stay can be organised. They will decide on the organisation of camps involving overnight stay in light of the epidemic situation at the end of the month, he indicated.

The Minister confirmed that there would be no teaching in schools until 2 June in Hungary. He added that Minister of State for Public Education Zoltán Maruzsa reassured them that there will be no problem with the closing of the school year even if students are not required to return to school in June.

Regarding reports that in many health care institutions health care workers are not wearing face masks and that there are likewise not enough protective supplies in other institutions, he said these claims are not true. There is not a single hospital in Hungary which does not have a minimum ten-day reserve stock of protective supplies. Between 12.00 p.m. and 3.00 p.m., every hospital is required to report on their anticipated needs, and the State Centre for Health Care Supplies provides for the replenishment of stocks of protective equipment accordingly.

In answer to a question asserting that in the past few days, the police have questioned persons based on messages posted on personal Facebook accounts and have prosecuted them due to scaremongering, he said there are dozens of procedures under way due to scaremongering, while there are another 27 due to the threat of public endangerment. With the exception of two cases, no one has questioned these on any legal grounds, he pointed out.

He said in one of these cases – if the information released in the press is correct – the prosecution service saw the act in question in a different light from that adopted by the police, and decided that it did not amount to a criminal offence. This happens in a country under the rule of law; if any of the authorities makes a mistake, and in particular, if this results in the restriction of an individual’s personal freedom for even just a few hours, then the state is liable for compensation, the Minister laid down.

He added that the government is asking the authorities to only resort to such means in the most justified cases, and this has been so in the vast majority of cases.

In answer to a question about the new patient care protocol and the future of epidemic hospitals, he confirmed that there was more or less concordant agreement in Hungary and Europe that the threat of a second wave of infection was severe. He also said the retreat of the epidemic will be “jagged”, meaning that there could be peaks lasting for a few days, and therefore it is key that health care capacity should remain flexible. Also beyond the state of danger, it will be necessary to uphold rules which guarantee flexibility and the possibility of immediate action, he added

He observed that at this time the number of coronavirus patients is decreasing significantly, and if this process continues, also in health care normal conditions will be allowed to return and the vacated beds could be used for normal therapy again.

Regarding the fact that in Romania 4 June has been declared Day of the Trianon Treaty and events popularising the treaty are to be held, he said he agrees with every word of President of the Democratic Alliance of Hungarians in Romania (RMDSZ) Hunor Kelemen. Mr Gulyás recalled that on the previous day the Hungarian politician from beyond the border said in the Romanian legislature that if Romania was a strong state, they would realise that having national minorities, including a substantial Hungarian national minority is something that adds to the wealth of the state itself. Laws such as this can be passed when a state is weak, in particular, when it is chauvinistic and pointlessly nationalistic.

Mr Gulyás highlighted they believe that the Hungarians living in Romania are also Romanian citizens, and accordingly, a country must make gestures which – rather than alienating the Hungarian community of over a million – serve to look upon them as part of the political nation. Romania has never succeeded in doing that, Mr Gulyás concluded.

He also said the Trianon memorial to be erected in the capital is complete; however, due to the epidemic, it is likely to be inaugurated on 20 August instead of 4 June.

In answer to a question, Mr Gulyás said it is to be hoped that the state of danger will have to be maintained for the shortest possible time, and unless a fundamental change occurs in the situation, the government could return its emergency mandate to Parliament sometime at the end of June. However, the status of the epidemic must be continuously monitored, he warned.

He further highlighted that it stands to reason that free parking should be maintained until the end of the state of danger.

Regarding the Curia’s decision on the Gyöngyöspata school case, Mr Gulyás said in answer to a question that final and absolute court decisions are binding on everyone in Hungary, including the Gyöngyöspata municipality and the government, and if the court imposes an obligation to pay damages, it must be fulfilled.

He stressed at the same time that they disagree with the content of the decision because it is an unfair and unjust decision, as a result of which everyone stands to lose: both minority and majority society in this case.

Those who do not receive compensation for the injuries they sustained in the form of education stand to lose as do those who have every reason to be shocked and upset that individuals can be awarded substantial damages for injuries which the locals do not perceive as genuine, he said.

Referring to Fidesz Member of Parliament for the constituency László Horváth’s suggestion, he added that it is well worth looking around in Gyöngyöspata and its vicinity where one might observe that it is usurers who most look forward to local Roma receiving these damages. In his view, those who started the procedure have created an irresponsible situation. The Minister said it is justified that Parliament should adopt a legislative amendment in this regard, laying down that in cases such as this damages should be supplied in kind, meaning that if a person sustained an injury in education, they should be awarded damages in the form of education.

He also indicated that in schools order and discipline must be maintained, and for this the government is ready to provide guarantees, even with the reinforcement of school police units in every settlement where necessary.

Regarding Mayor of Budapest Gergely Karácsony’s Budapest Restart plan, the Minister stressed he was convinced that they had devised such a long document in order not to have to make a clear position about whether the Mayor of Budapest was in favour of reopening or the maintenance of the present situation.

He pointed out that the government does not wish to share its responsibility as the government’s responsibility is clear. They merely wished to acquaint themselves with the Mayor of Budapest’s opinion.

In answer to the question as to whether local governments could be eligible for wage support in relation to their workers, Mr Gulyás said the state continues to pay norm contributions according to the earlier attendance numbers which allows local governments to provide salaries also for the workers of institutions that are currently not operating, including creches and nursery schools.

The Minister highlighted in answer to a question about the legislative amendment regarding economic zones that this sought to remedy an old injustice. At the same time, a number of factually incorrect reports have been published in the press about them. He pointed out that the effect of the legislation would not extend to already implemented projects, only to extensions and future projects. At the same time, it does not affect the capital or county-ranked cities at all.

The amendment makes possible the distribution of the local trade tax among multiple settlements concerned in the case of projects worth in excess of HUF 5 billion implemented in smaller settlements, he added.

Mr Gulyás said answering a question about the continuation of the Modern Cities Programme that the projects planned earlier are ongoing, and they are seeking to broaden options for this programme in next year’s budget as far as possible. However, the continuation of projects will depend on the performance of the economy.

In answer to a question, Government Spokesperson Alexandra Szentkirályi informed the press that more than 15,000 persons have applied for the free online IT training offered by the state, and those who pass their examinations at the end of the two-month programme will be able to continue their studies in IT programmes fully paid for by the state.

The Minister stated in answer to another question that at the beginning of March 2,700 to 2,800 ventilators were available in the country, while today there are almost five thousand such machines in fully operational condition in hospitals. This number will increase by another few thousand in order to reach the target number of between 8,500 and 9,000 which guarantees that in the event of a second wave of the epidemic, Hungary will be able to protect the health of those falling ill in the epidemic, he said.

Regarding the bill on the termination of the undivided collective ownership of properties, he said they are submitting a motion of amendment in response to a request of historical churches so that in the event that there are graves in such territories it should be possible to guarantee that they remain undisturbed.

In answer to another question, he underlined that while there is no official decision yet, it is to be hoped that the collection of signatures for national regions will be extended.

He pointed out that they are planning the 2021 budget against the background of a three-per-cent recession projected for this year.

(Prime Minister’s Office/MTI)